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It’s a digital economy so connectivity is free

In this digital economy people are used to having access to technology everywhere. Micheal Levie discusses how this affects hospitality services.

Digital economy business models

I figure that if I can get a cup of copy for three bucks and internet with it for free then when you book a hotel room for a little bit more than that coffee you should get internet for free. I think it is completely stupid not to provide it for free. We've gone much further and provide TV for free, we have even gone as far as in installing voice over IP phones and charge Skype rates. The rate should cover everything. Don't nickel and dime people.
Connected Economy TV will continue to follow the impact of the digital economy on industry practices.

It’s a digital economy so connectivity is free

In this digital economy people are used to having access to technology everywhere. Micheal Levie discusses how this affects hospitality services.

Digital economy business models

I figure that if I can get a cup of copy for three bucks and internet with it for free then when you book a hotel room for a little bit more than that coffee you should get internet for free. I think it is completely stupid not to provide it for free. We've gone much further and provide TV for free, we have even gone as far as in installing voice over IP phones and charge Skype rates. The rate should cover everything. Don't nickel and dime people.
Connected Economy TV will continue to follow the impact of the digital economy on industry practices.

Access to data comes with responsibility

Businesses have access to data from more and more individuals who are entering email addresses and phone numbers in to online forms. In this TV show Gerald Lawless explains why respecting individuals information is paramount.

Access to data in hospitality

In the hotel business we really have to understand our responsibility to our guests to maintain the confidentiality of that data. And this is something that is so abused around the world. I mean we all receive these silly phone calls and you wonder how people got your mobile number, apart from me putting it on my business card, which always doesn’t help. But it is important that we treat that with great respect, with great care. And yes, use it but use it in a way that doesn’t annoy the guest, and this is important. So we write and say, “Do you want to communicate with us?” If they don’t want to, well then that’s fine and we respect very much the confidentiality of the guest data that we hold.
Connected Economy TV will continue to follow discussions around access to data and data usage.

Technology infrastructure needs government investment

The hospitality industry would benefit from investment in technology and infrastructure. In this TV show Sir David Michels explains that government successfully invests in failed industries.

Technology, infrastructure and investment

I don’t think the hospitality industry generally needs any subsidisation. It will always ask to pay less tax, to be more equal to our European partners, but I don’t think that’s the main thing that the hospitality industry would ask for. It would ask for investment in infrastructure, investment in technology where it is appropriate, investment in an industry where they have never invested before. Government has been wonderful at investing in failed industries; Coal, steel, I won’t give the whole list. But it always seems to put its money on industries that are no longer relevant. Maybe not always but very often. What it doesn’t do is find industries that are growing and invest in them because from their view they don’t need help. History tells us that if you invest more in the successful, and less in the unsuccessful, you’ll get a higher return. Now it’s our fault if we haven’t been able to convey that message, but it’s one message we are desperately trying to convey.
If you enjoyed this video about technology, infrastructure, and investment, please explore more TV shows on Connected Economy TV.

Data strategy for multimedia content

Search is a really important part of what Google does in travel.
So people typing something in and then getting a response that’s relevant.
But also you know, people are now going onto video a lot more, so YouTube and being able to look and see what a hotel’s like or what a holiday’s like is really key.
And then also we’re developing things like hotel finder and that amalgamates all the bits of data and information that a user would need in order to book a hotel for example.
So it’s got the pictures. It’s got the price point. It’s got reviews. And it’s got maps.
And it’s got all the things that help a user get to that point from, you know, thinking about maybe going somewhere and actually facilitating that actual transaction and booking through a third party.
Connected Economy TV will continue to follow ideas around data strategy and there are more videos from Nigel Huddleston.

Data strategy investment

Data strategy is important in order to be competitive. In this TV show Andrew Sangster discusses why investment into harnessing data is imperative.

Data strategy and investment cases

What's it going to cost if you don't do it? Its not just a question of upfront costs. It will cost you less in terms of the processing the information. If you are going to take a serious step in analyzing the investment case, you can't afford not to because your rivals will be doing it. You could be seriously caught out. Advisors need to give sound advice. One of the things that is happening now is transparency of data. Historically we have been able to hide mistakes but that's no longer the case, it's now there and it's instant. so you need to be quick to start processing that information that's there and bringing in as much as possible to make meaningful decisions.
If you found this video about data strategy interesting why not watch more TV shows on Connected Economy TV?

Information management strategy online

Information management strategy for business may now include getting outside help and training. in this TV show Ian Goldin discusses filtering through the data.

Information management strategy changes

I think the increase is so rapid that managements that have been in place for a while just aren't up to speed. And there will be entire industries helping business synthesize the data, presenting it to them in forms which are usable and that the value added.
There's a lot to be read in to it but this can be misread. One of the most dangerous things is trawling the internet because it is absolutely undiscerning between garbage and genius.
That's why proper education and training does really matter because that's the filter through which you pass all of this information.
Connected Economy TV will continue to follow ideas around information management strategy.

Disruptive technology in hotel booking

Our clients have become even more dependent on their own internal systems as to how they book, how they get their own internal customers to book, they're forcing them to compliance intranets.
They're utilising systems like ours to interface with those so they become external booking agents. So in our case we have a guest portal, that that client now with all of their SLAs are completely loaded on to that portal that is specific to that company.
So actually they don't have to go to the travel department. If you are relocating it will tell you what your allowances are, it will tell you who to contact, it will have internal confirmations on.
You get your confirmation back though that portal. It eliminates complete interfaces in many cases, with their own internal travel department, which has reduced obviously labour.
Efficiency and accuracy has improved, thats a big dramatic change for many companies.
If you found this TV show about disruptive technology and hotel booking systems, please browse more interviews on Connected Economy TV.

Information management strategy on the fly

Information management strategy has been revolutionized by "Big Data". In this TV show Andrew Sangster discusses turning expensive data into clever data.

Information management strategy is expensive

The problem with data or to get technical its relational database, is that it is so very fixed rigid. You have lines, addresses and the purchases made.
So you will have a relational database for what the guest has done in terms of their booking.
You will have one in terms of what they have done when they have gone to a food & beverage outlet.
You might have another one in terms of how guests have browsed your website.
So it’s all stored in lot of different places, what guests have booked in terms of amenities and you know whether there’s a spa, and it’s all stored in different places and it just doesn’t talk to each other, it’s just sat there, sitting there in this database in a very expensive way actually.
These relational databases are very expensive to maintain, they require lot of hardware in terms of the data itself there, the inputting, setting them up and constructing them.
Well actually, if you can break them all free and actually get all of those databases talking to each other.
I think the evolution now, well revolution actually with big data coming along actually breaking those data bases apart, linking them all together ad actually doing it faster, cheaper on the fly.
So what would take days if you had the time and money to it, the getting the databases to talk to each other by traditional routes you can do instantly on the fly now.
It is possible to produce very compelling offers now for customers using this data.
Connected Economy TV will continue to bring you expert insight and opinion on information management strategy and the uses and challenges of Big Data.

Digital engagement – Power and risk

Digital engagement using social technologies can be exceptionally powerful and can be a business risk. The platforms produce a lot of information and data. In this TV show Professor Ian Golding explains that instantaneous online platforms are difficult to digest.

Digital engagement impact

I think we are still grappling with what it means, social technologies again have immense power.
We have seen how they have been used in very very positives ways. In the Arab Spring for example. In many other places where they have become a political force.
Wiki closing it's website effectively for 24 hours on the political processes in the US was quite remarkable, it led to the reversal of legislation, very rapid new forms of political mobilization have resulted.
We have also seen how it has led to the collapse of reputations.
Photographs of the gulf oil fuels for example have led to very very serious loss of value for shareholders and this will continue.
I think the danger with it of course is that there's a lot of herding, a lot of trivia.
Discerning in this data deluge whats is significant, what matters, and what one shouldn't absorb is the biggest challenge.
So it's like drinking from a fire hydrant, very difficult to do effectively, and that power is only going to increase over time.
So working out what we absorb and how we absorb it, how we learn from it, I think is going to be absolutely critical.
If you are interested in discussion around social technologies, digital engagement and information management, bookmark Connected Economy TV and keep an eye out for more shows.

Digital economy lifestyle redefining hotel luxury

In this digital economy luxury is more about enabling a lifestyle that is easy, accessible and comfortable than lavish. In this TV show Michael Levie discusses the impact of the digital lifestyle on the hospitality industry.

Digital economy: value of technology

I think we are looking for luxury, but luxury in the past, was maybe a crystal chandelier and white gloves service.
Today it is more in a hybrid environment when you flip open your laptop and have an internet connection.
Historically we will be categorised by a gender or by the income or by origin or whatever. Today we travel in jeans, we have on a cheap T-shirt, we have a designer watch, we sip champagne and we take the bus home.
And we do that both for leisure and for business.
What we feel is, is that today people gravitate to lifestyle and you want to belong to a certain lifestyle.
So in a day and age of Apple iPhones and computers we take a strip of sushi, we would like to have fashion and architecture and beautiful objects around and that provides us an environment that we are comfortable in or that we aspire to.
That's what we try to provide at Citizen M.

Connected Economy TV will continue to explore ideas around the digital economy and there will be more TV shows from Michael Levie.

Communication strategy is stronger with video

Marketing communication strategy will be made stronger with the use of video. In this TV show Nigel Huddleston discusses using video in the hospitality industry.

Communication strategy: Conveying business propositions through video

Video is really important for travel because it can convey the emotional experience of travel and it gets that excitement going.
So what we’re seeing is a real change in the mind set. And actually what’s on there in terms of content from the likes of hoteliers and holidays.
And it’s not just still photos and bits of empty rooms or ghost ships that are empty now.
You’re getting these really emotional experiences that are being conveyed on video, you know, fantastic holiday scenes, great experience around the pool of the hotel, great lively restaurants, nightclubs and bars.
And that can only really come across in video content. So we’re seeing hoteliers and travel companies really experiment with much more creative content than we’ve seen in the past.
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Connected Economy TV will continue to follow ideas around communication strategy. Visit ybc.ybcnetwork.wpengine.com to hear more about the power of video.

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